Data is fundamentally changing the nature of businesses and organisations and the mechanisms for delivering products and services. This book is a practical guide to developing strategy and policy for data governance, in line with the developing ISO 38505 governance of data standards. It will assist an organisation wanting to become more of a data driven business by explaining how to assess the value, risks and constraints associated with collecting, using and distributing data.

Directors and government ministers across the world are increasingly being held accountable for failed IT systems, data loss and poor decisions about their organisation's data. The answer lies in IT professionals working in parallel with their governing body to create an environment where information and information systems can be accessed and used by the appropriate stakeholders. Written in two halves, this valuable book is designed to bridge the gap between the governing body and CIOs/ IT managers. It will help them to create a safe and robust governance framework for their organisation by applying the principles of the ISO IT Governance Standard 38500 on directing, evaluating and monitoring IT activity. A practical approach to best practices in IT governance Shows how to govern, protect and manage information and technology assets Reduces the risk involved in delivering business information systems Written by a leader of the group that developed the ISO/IEC 38500 standard

This is a must-have instructional and inspirational book for anyone interested in free-motion embroidery. Drawing on new material, as well as that previously published as The Beginner's Guide to Machine Embroidered Flowers, The Beginner's Guide to Machine Embroidered Landscapes, Machine Embroidered Seascapes and Machine Embroidered Woodlands, this book provides a showcase of Alison Holt's exquisite machine embroideries. Learn how to create beautiful machine-embroidered pictures of all aspects of the landscape, from formal gardens and flowers to romantic seascapes, landscapes and woodlands using various combinations of just two simple machine stitches. Information on silk painting and colour mixing is also included. All the techniques are broken down into clear, step-by-step instructions, with numerous helpful photographs and a great range of inspirational pieces. Alison 'paints' her threads on to hand-coloured backgrounds, blending her stitches and achieving stunning results. This book covers everything, including the materials required; how to compose a picture from photographs that have inspired you; achieving perspective; light and shade; painting backgrounds; and all the basic stitch techniques you need to know. There are stunning step-by-step projects so that the reader can put into practise his or her newly-acquired skills.